Each organism can be perceived as a black box. In Engineering, frequently we will use a black box to represent a device which convert a particular input to a separate output. However, just as in the situation of a black box which is a machine, the internal engine of any system needs maintenance.

Failure of maintenance in the black box system of an automobile can take place on different levels such as failing to make changes to parts needing maintenance, failing to maintain fluids that ensure the life of the parts, or failing to provide fuel. We recall there are four energy flows:

•       Incorporation
•        Transfer
•       Utilization
•       Recycling of used energy

Failure of maintenance can occur at any of these levels. Thus a failure to maintain all will shorten engine life and the ability of the system to utilize energy to create output.

Failure to maintain the machinery of the black box of the biological organism essentially causes a similar breakdown of the system. The question is this. What happens when the black box system fails in the world of machinery? It is scavenged and recycled into parts for other machinery. In this process it is consumed. Thus in our systems analogy, failure to maintain the system, that is failure to pay attention to the consequence of choice will lead to the heart of the machinery being consumed. So, in other words, failure to pay attention to the oil warning light will lead to the engine seizing upon itself, literally consuming itself. This is then followed by scavenging of the parts or the final consumption.

This can be seen in biologic systems as well. The failure to maintain the system appropriately with fuel and attention to items requiring maintenance will result in the biologic system consuming itself. Literally it does this with its internal enzymes. The result in failure to pay attention to the oil light in the engine is the same when the feedback signals producing poor health are ignored. The system consumes itself and is recycled by further consumption.

We can create from this a general systems law.

1)     Failure to observe and maintain the system will lead to its consumption from inside

2)     Failure to respond to the consequence of choices will lead to consumption and recycling

We can apply these systems law to what is occurring in any system within our society as well as to the individual. We can apply this to the economic system, the health care system, the legal system or any other system. This is so because we have a consciousness based reality and all systems functionally are collections of consciousness.